부산대학교 도서관

Context: Silymarin is a hepatoprotectant frequently prescribed for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. But is there any evidence to support the use of silymarin for chronic viral hepatitis? Objective: To assess the effects of administering silymarin for patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Data Source and Study Selection: A systematic review of silymarin for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis was performed using PubMed as the literature search engine. Articles analysis: Two systematic reviews that studied milk thistle (active agent: silymarin compounds) in chronic viral hepatitis were identified. The first review included thirteen randomized clinical trials in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and/or chronic viral hepatitis. There was no significant difference between milk thistle group and placebo group on mortality, liver-related mortality, biochemistry data, liver histology, or complications of liver disease. The second review included seven studies in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and found a decrease in serum transaminases in the treatment groups. However, silymarin had no effect on mortality, viral load, liver histology or complications of liver disease. Conclusion: There is no strong evidence supporting or refuting silymarin in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. Some low quality ratings showed that silymarin treatment resulted in a decrease of liver enzymes (especially aspartateaminotransferase and alanineaminotransferase).